I took my '21 Outback Onyx
I took my '21 Outback Onyx with multi X-Mode for a drive in the Nor'Easter snowfall yesterday to familiarize myself with its capabilities and use.
Two observations.
One: The steep streets passable to the first or second vehicles became compressed white ice and vehicles were curbed all over the sloped streets, in messy clots at the bottom of steep ones. My car in the snow/dirt setting ascended and descended all pitches without wheelspin or skidding, including going at walking speed up the steepest hill past a CRV whose driver was unable to stand next to his shiny Honda that had just hard curbed itself after spinning down the hill.
Two: Other vehicles moving about on the lesser slopes include a RAV4, several undistinguishable midsize GM SUVs and a KIA that were all spinning and locking wheels alternately to my observation as I drove along with fully controlled all wheel drive.
I never needed the deep snow mode for up or down the big hills. The only folks on them had failed and parked or nearly wrecked and were stuck as a result of trying. These surfaces were so slick that standing or walking without handhold wasn't possible.
I'm going to say that TFL's results showed something, but the methodology is so far removed from what you need out of an "AWD" vehicle that it should be discredited by real world experiences compared to its testing outcomes.